In 2020, Jeanette Garza let go.

She and her husband, Santiago Gonzalez, had been struggling with infertility issues for years. The constant questioning of ‘why me?’ as test after test came back negative. It had taken a toll on her emotionally. She accepted that a child might not be in her future.

“I gave it to God,” Garza, now 46, said.

In 2024, the couple had an opportunity to foster two brothers, 18-month-old Santiago and 4-month-old Andres. In May, the couple was able to officially adopt the siblings.

Weeks later, Garza went to the hospital for what she thought was a hernia. Doctors told her she was eight months pregnant. 

Days later, she was back at the hospital, undergoing a cesarean delivery.

All told, Garza adopted two boys, learned she was eight-months pregnant, and delivered a newborn baby — something she had assumed was impossible given her infertility struggles and age — all within the span of five weeks.

Jeanette Garza feeds and bonds with her newborn baby, Diego, at Methodist Hospital Westover Hills on Monday. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report

‘Extremely rare’

Garza and her husband, both Southside natives, had wanted kids throughout their 13-year marriage. They increasingly found themselves missing the busyness of their home when their nieces and nephews weren’t around.

The opportunity to adopt was a blessing, Garza said. Initially they were worried about fostering because they didn’t know if they would be able to adopt the two boys.

“I didn’t want later on in life for someone to come and take the baby from us … our hearts would be broken again,” Garza said. “It was a very hard decision to make because of the uncertainty.”

Over the last year, Garza had been experiencing random heartburn, weight gain, difficulties sleeping and being out of breath. Although she can recognize the signs clearly now, the possibility of being pregnant wasn’t in the cards anymore in her or her family’s mind.

“I just kept saying I gained too much weight,” Garza said. 

When Garza walked into Methodist Hospital Westover Hills in June, her care team could tell she was pregnant immediately.

“When I first saw Mrs. Garza standing at our clinic desk, I thought she was obviously pregnant,” said Dr. Christina Gutierrez, an OB-GYN with Methodist Physicians Westover Hills. “But I understand that her family just hadn’t really considered that as a possibility.”

Jeanette Garza had been carrying a child for eight months before she found out she was pregnant. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report

“It is extremely rare,” for someone to go so long without knowing they’re pregnant, Gutierrez added, known as cryptic or stealth pregnancies.

About 1 in 475 pregnancies go unnoticed until around 20 weeks of gestation. And 1 in 2,500 go unnoticed until delivery, according to one 2001 study in Germany. Stealth pregnancies are more likely in women who have never been pregnant, recently gave birth, have PMOS, use birth control or are in perimenopause.

Garza and her husband were in disbelief, even after doctors told her. “I kept saying, ‘No, I’m not,’” Garza said.

‘Nothing short of miraculous’

It was also apparent to Garza’s care team that she was the “highest of high-risk patients” due to her age and diabetic condition, Gutierrez said.

Garza was back at Methodist four days later after experiencing increased pressure. Due to elevated blood pressure, doctors recommended a cesarean section. 

Jeanette Garza’s pregnancy was considered high risk based off of her age and health at the time. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report

She delivered a baby boy, who they named Diego, four weeks early. He required admission into the neonatal intensive care unit for 26 days due to blood sugar issues before he could go home with his parents.

“It’s really nothing short of miraculous that she took home a healthy baby,” Gutierrez said.

Diego has been home for about three weeks now. Garza and her husband are still adjusting. So are Santiago and Andres, now toddlers. 

The busyness of the home has been restored — even more than the couple had expected.

“My house feels complete,” Garza said.